See the Risk:Doctors reveal why you should stop KISSING; It is worse than SMOKING

Tuesday, 28 July 2015 - Kissing has overtaken smoking and drinking as the leading risk factor for developing head and neck cancers.

This is according to doctors. 

The humble French kiss can pass on human papilloma virus (HPV), which is responsible for over 70% of head and neck cancer cases.

According to the Head of Maxillofacial and Head and neck Surgery at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Australia ,Dr Mahiban Thomas, if you became infected by HPV in the oropharynx, your risk of developing head and neck cancer was 250 times higher than that of someone without the virus. 

While most commonly associated with cervical cancers, HPV can affect both men and women.

There are more than 100 types of the virus, but only about eight ‘high risk’ strains of HPV that can cause cancers in the oropharynx.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said studies suggest Oral HPV could be passed on during ()ral s3x, open-mouthed or ‘French’ kissing, and about 7% of people have oral HPV, but only 1% of people have the type of oral HPV that is found in oropharyngeal cancers.

Dr Thomas added that your risk of contracting the HPV virus increased with the number of French kissing partners you have.

Source Daily Mail UK